“National Defense Shrines: From Ancient Times to the Greater East Asia War, and the Present” Released April 3, 2026
Wani Books has released a new book titled 'National Defense Shrines,' co-authored by historian Jun Kuno and writer Tsuneyasu Takeda. The book explores the historical role of Shinto shrines in Japan's national defense and spiritual life, featuring insights from extensive fieldwork and a special dialogue between the authors.
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Wani Books Co., Ltd. (Shibuya, Tokyo; Representative Director: Akio Takahashi) released the book "National Defense Shrines - From Ancient Times to the Greater East Asia War, and the Present" (Authors: Jun Kuno, Tsuneyasu Takeda) on Friday, April 3, 2026.
Jun Kuno, a historian and associate professor at Japan University of Economics, is a sharp-witted commentator who stands out for his exceptional fieldwork, having interviewed numerous war veterans and researched over 300 shrines. In this book, he discusses the history of the shrines that have protected the nation, supporting Japan in every aspect, including the spiritual and national defense realms. The book also includes a dialogue with Tsuneyasu Takeda, who was born into the former Imperial Takeda family and is a great-great-grandson of Emperor Meiji.
What are the little-known "shipboard shrines"?
Topics include: Masashige Kusunoki, Saigo Takamori (Nanshu-o), the battleships Yamato and Musashi, the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the light cruiser Yahagi, Retired Emperor Go-Toba and the Jokyu War, the Choshu Domain's Shokon-sai (spirit-invoking festivals), the Conquest of the Three Han States and Hachiman worship, the Nihon Shoki and the Battle of Baekgang, etc.
What are the important things we must pass on for the future of our country?
Main contents of this book:
◇ What are shrines and Shinto to Japan?
◇ The keen insight of our ancestors who built "shaden" (shrine buildings) at shrines
◇ The essence of prayer experienced by Takeshi Kitano during his visit to the Ise Jingu Inner Shrine
◇ Ise Jingu is not a shrine for personal wishes
◇ The danger of discussing history and the Constitution while ignoring shrines and Shinto
◇ If you take "separation of religion and state" to the extreme, will roadside Jizo statues be removed too?
◇ The true image of historical figures revealed through the worship of human spirits
◇ It is shrines that have continued to protect Japan's land and national polity (kokutai)
◇ Did Shinto have a major influence on overcoming COVID-19?
◇ Japanese people lead a highly sophisticated religious life, rare even by global standards
◇ History textbooks that look down on shrines
◇ What history textbooks lack is the consciousness of "entertaining students"
◇ The hope lies in young historians who are "returning to pre-war" perspectives
Book Information
"National Defense Shrines - From Ancient Times to the Greater East Asia War, and the Present"
Authors: Jun Kuno, Tsuneyasu Takeda
Release Date: April 3, 2026
Price: 1,980 yen (tax included)
ISBN: 978-4-8470-7572-8
Publisher: Wani Books
Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4847075722
Author Profiles
Jun Kuno
Associate Professor at Japan University of Economics. Born in Osaka Prefecture in 1980. Graduated from the Faculty of Policy Management at Keio University and completed the International Public Policy program at the Kyoto University Graduate School of Law. After serving as a part-time lecturer at Osaka International University, Kogakkan University, and Meijo University, and as a full-time lecturer at Osaka University of Tourism, he assumed his current position in 2022. He specializes in modern political and diplomatic history. He is an executive committee member of the Society for the Study of Historical Awareness and representative executive of the Society for the Study of Commemorative History.
Author of "Imperial Navy and Shipboard Shrines" (Shodensha), "The Wake of the Imperial Navy" (Seirindo), and co-author of "Definitive Edition: Introduction to the Nihon Shoki" (with Tsuneyasu Takeda, Business-sha), "The True Causes and Miscalculations of the Japan-US War" (PHP Shinsho), and "Yasukuni Shrine: Neither Myth nor War Glorification" (with Hidetoshi Tojo, Business-sha). He is a regular contributor to the Sankei Shimbun's "Seiron" column.
Dialogue Partner: Tsuneyasu Takeda
Writer. Born in 1975 into the former Imperial Takeda family. Great-great-grandson of Emperor Meiji. Graduated from the Faculty of Law at Keio University. Specializes in constitutional law and history. Received the 15th Yamamoto Shichihei Award for "The Untold Truths of the Imperial Family" (Shogakukan). Received the 21st Seiron Shinpu Award in 2021. Major works include "The Emperor's National History" (PHP Institute), "Why is Japan the Most Popular Country in the World?", "Why Don't Japanese People Know About Japan?", "When Did Japanese People Start Loving Japan?" (all PHP Shinsho), "Modern Language Kojiki" (Gakken Plus), "Tsuneyasu Takeda's Special Lecture: The Emperor and the Imperial Family" (Gakken), "Definitive Edition: Introduction to the Nihon Shoki" (co-authored with Jun Kuno), and "10 Principles to Strengthen Japan" (co-authored with Takamasa Kadota) (all Business-sha), among many others.
Jun Kuno, a historian and associate professor at Japan University of Economics, is a sharp-witted commentator who stands out for his exceptional fieldwork, having interviewed numerous war veterans and researched over 300 shrines. In this book, he discusses the history of the shrines that have protected the nation, supporting Japan in every aspect, including the spiritual and national defense realms. The book also includes a dialogue with Tsuneyasu Takeda, who was born into the former Imperial Takeda family and is a great-great-grandson of Emperor Meiji.
What are the little-known "shipboard shrines"?
Topics include: Masashige Kusunoki, Saigo Takamori (Nanshu-o), the battleships Yamato and Musashi, the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the light cruiser Yahagi, Retired Emperor Go-Toba and the Jokyu War, the Choshu Domain's Shokon-sai (spirit-invoking festivals), the Conquest of the Three Han States and Hachiman worship, the Nihon Shoki and the Battle of Baekgang, etc.
What are the important things we must pass on for the future of our country?
Main contents of this book:
◇ What are shrines and Shinto to Japan?
◇ The keen insight of our ancestors who built "shaden" (shrine buildings) at shrines
◇ The essence of prayer experienced by Takeshi Kitano during his visit to the Ise Jingu Inner Shrine
◇ Ise Jingu is not a shrine for personal wishes
◇ The danger of discussing history and the Constitution while ignoring shrines and Shinto
◇ If you take "separation of religion and state" to the extreme, will roadside Jizo statues be removed too?
◇ The true image of historical figures revealed through the worship of human spirits
◇ It is shrines that have continued to protect Japan's land and national polity (kokutai)
◇ Did Shinto have a major influence on overcoming COVID-19?
◇ Japanese people lead a highly sophisticated religious life, rare even by global standards
◇ History textbooks that look down on shrines
◇ What history textbooks lack is the consciousness of "entertaining students"
◇ The hope lies in young historians who are "returning to pre-war" perspectives
Book Information
"National Defense Shrines - From Ancient Times to the Greater East Asia War, and the Present"
Authors: Jun Kuno, Tsuneyasu Takeda
Release Date: April 3, 2026
Price: 1,980 yen (tax included)
ISBN: 978-4-8470-7572-8
Publisher: Wani Books
Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4847075722
Author Profiles
Jun Kuno
Associate Professor at Japan University of Economics. Born in Osaka Prefecture in 1980. Graduated from the Faculty of Policy Management at Keio University and completed the International Public Policy program at the Kyoto University Graduate School of Law. After serving as a part-time lecturer at Osaka International University, Kogakkan University, and Meijo University, and as a full-time lecturer at Osaka University of Tourism, he assumed his current position in 2022. He specializes in modern political and diplomatic history. He is an executive committee member of the Society for the Study of Historical Awareness and representative executive of the Society for the Study of Commemorative History.
Author of "Imperial Navy and Shipboard Shrines" (Shodensha), "The Wake of the Imperial Navy" (Seirindo), and co-author of "Definitive Edition: Introduction to the Nihon Shoki" (with Tsuneyasu Takeda, Business-sha), "The True Causes and Miscalculations of the Japan-US War" (PHP Shinsho), and "Yasukuni Shrine: Neither Myth nor War Glorification" (with Hidetoshi Tojo, Business-sha). He is a regular contributor to the Sankei Shimbun's "Seiron" column.
Dialogue Partner: Tsuneyasu Takeda
Writer. Born in 1975 into the former Imperial Takeda family. Great-great-grandson of Emperor Meiji. Graduated from the Faculty of Law at Keio University. Specializes in constitutional law and history. Received the 15th Yamamoto Shichihei Award for "The Untold Truths of the Imperial Family" (Shogakukan). Received the 21st Seiron Shinpu Award in 2021. Major works include "The Emperor's National History" (PHP Institute), "Why is Japan the Most Popular Country in the World?", "Why Don't Japanese People Know About Japan?", "When Did Japanese People Start Loving Japan?" (all PHP Shinsho), "Modern Language Kojiki" (Gakken Plus), "Tsuneyasu Takeda's Special Lecture: The Emperor and the Imperial Family" (Gakken), "Definitive Edition: Introduction to the Nihon Shoki" (co-authored with Jun Kuno), and "10 Principles to Strengthen Japan" (co-authored with Takamasa Kadota) (all Business-sha), among many others.